Digi-Scene

Last Thursday, I got the grim news that I was getting the boot from my company. My parting gift wasn't exactly a years supply of Rice-a-Roni, but it wasn't that NEWWWW car, either. I gave the 5 1/2 best years of my life to this company and that's the thanks I get?

Thankfully they gave me a 2 week transition period in which to get my head wrapped around the idea of unemployment and trying to figure out where you go to develop the skill to write up a carboard sign with something clever enough for someone to give me money.

So here's the timeline.

Thursday - Get called into HR. "Sorry to tell you this Kim, but you are part of the RIF. You'll be here for 2 more weeks to 'transition' your remaining projects, and then it's adios. Here's your separation packet. Unfortunately it's not complete with everything you need, because we just decided this morning to add you to the list. Have a nice day."

Friday - Get a phone call from the guy in Geneva, Switzerland who will be heading up the new international version of my team. He asks what I do. I tell him that I can win at solitaire in only 15 moves on a good day. He wasn't amused. Neither was I.

Monday - Begin sending out resumes. Get a phone call that afternoon from a company wanting to interview me.

Tuesday - Get a phone call from the guy in Geneva again. He just found out that a key member of our team who was NOT laid-off has another job offer and has given her two week notice. He'd like to lobby the company to see if I can have my job back. I tell him that I'd love to discuss it further but I have a job interview in half an hour. Subdued, he says that he wishes me well and that I can use him for a reference. What a swell guy. I head out to my interview with a software company just down the road from my current job. The CFO likes what I have to say and I think the interview went well.

Wednesday - Get a frantic call from the guy in Geneva asking me if I won't PLEASE reconsider staying at the company. I tell him I will consider it. He still doesn't know if the request will go through, but his VP has approved it and so has HR. It now needs to be approved by the President of the whole frickin' company. HR asks for a copy of my resume. Hey I just happen to have a VERY up-to-date version to share. *snicker*

As I go home, I reflect on the pros and cons of staying vs going. I know that the software company is very interested, but I honestly don't know if it's going to be a good fit for me. I'm torn.

Thursday - Get to the office and the guy in Geneva calls again. He's already recived a call by the software company to provide a reference. He's put them off for now because he can definitively offer me a job on the new team. I negotiate with him for a few perks that he readily agrees to along with an accelerated review for a pay increase. I ask for 24 hours to consider the offer. I go home and stew and fret and consider. By Friday morning I've decided I'm going to stay.

Friday - Get to the office and find out that the software company has called ALL of my references already and they want to speak with me. I have the unpleasant task of thanking them for their interest, but that I've decided to stay with my current company. They ask if there's any way I would reconsider (ie $$$$), but it really isn't the money, it's about the job. I give the Europe office a ring and let them know I'll be staying. I've let them know that I understand that my employment is "at will", which means that not only can they lay me off, but I can leave whenever I want to too.

I don't plan to stay here forever, but the job market is good right now, and they always say that the best way to find the job you want, is to be looking while you still have a job. I plan to do just that.

That's what it's all about!